For the month of Sept (our 1st Birthday month) we are running a competition where you will win a bundle of La Toriana gifts to the value of $100.  We will choose some mum and bub gifts just for you … wrap it all up with a birthday bow and send you the present!

all you need to do is reply to this blog post below and tell us what your favourite product or designer at La Toriana is and what you like about it. 

Easy Peasy!! 

maybe your fav is a baby bib by Vanchi,  PJ’s by Lazybones or organic lip balm by Oopsidaisi?… no matter what it is we would love to know!  Post your thoughts below!

and dont forget… 

Sweet Lilly Maternity – bringing back the sexy to maternity wear

Online maternity store Sweet Lilly Maternity is now positioned as Australia’s premier shop at home site for racy, fashion savvy maternity clothes, baby wear, breastfeeding clothes and designer baby shower gifts, and La Toriana has always loved this store.

With a store offering of over 50 different labels, Sweet Lilly has one of the largest collections of sexy, stylish and affordable maternity collections in Australia today with a cult following of loyal customers who continue to purchase well after the birth of their children. 

Imported labels from the UK, USA and Europe, as well as domestic favourites are what have given Sweet Lilly the ‘edge’ over other maternity stores, as well as the exclusive and highly sought after designer maternity evening dress label Lilly B of Sydney.

“Our strategy is to choose colourful, exclusive, top quality, exciting and edgy maternity styles for our store and offer them at realistic prices,” says store manager Sally Hainey.  “We keep our overheads low in order to pass on the savings to our customers, rather than inflate the price,” she adds.   

“We are always mindful that not all of our customers have a hefty wallet or can justify paying hundreds of dollars for maternity jeans or designer maternity dresses,” she says. 

Customer service is a main concern to this company and to this end, they also offer a made to measure service on exquisite maternity evening gowns and maternity bridal wear with the stylish designer of exclusive maternity dress label Lilly B of Sydney.

Sweet Lilly orders are dispatched the same day and clients usually receive their orders the very next day via express post delivery or personal courier– you can’t get better service than that!  And if that wasn’t enough, all orders are gift wrapped free of charge.

Sweet Lilly Maternity recently scored 4 ½ 5 out of 5 in the online Beauty & Lace Business Awards and this adds testament to their commitment to customer service and superior product range.

Sexy is another major consideration for the product offering at Sweet Lilly Maternity.  You will find a range of sexy maternity lingerie, sleepwear and breastfeeding clothes, as well as a plethora of amazing sexy maternity dresses, maternity evening wear and maternity jeans to make you feel one hot mama during your pregnancy!

So if your pregnancy is giving you the mama blues, take your credit card on a roller coaster ride of pure heaven and visit http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au for a guaranteed fix!

For more information, contact Hannah Thompson

admin@sweetlillymaternity.com.au

I must say when at Kids In Style recently, it was wonderful to finally meet Lisa from Cheeky Little Soles.

For a couple months, Cheeky Little Soles were a # 1 best seller at La Toriana so to meet Lisa, the talented business mum behind the business was an utter delight.

I saw the gorgeous new range to Cheeky Little Soles and I am sure they will really delight the little girls as well as mums  out there.  They are light, stylish and extreemly affordable!

Now your little princess can have a pair of designer soft leather shoes to compliment any designer outfit.  Choose from one of the many girls  (plus many boy styles too) pairs of Cheeky Little Soles

I remember as a little girl having a pink pair just like in the pictiure above… and was relegated to tears when I no longer could fit into them.  Do you think my mum could find more?  Nope. 

So I hung onto my ballet slippers til in my teens as it bought back such wonderful childhood memories.

I wonder what ever happened to them….

Still looking for a name and a home!!

Yep… Its been hard trying to keep this mouse away from the computer to check if there is anyone… someone who thinks he’s cute and has given him a name!

So… I ended up  (for both our sanity)  taking this rascal down the beach for some R & R.  we played  and splashed, went and ate fish and chips by the sea and told stories before heading back for a hot chocolate and a BBQ dinner.

We walked and walked… often not even talking, but always saying hello to one of the friendly locals walking along. (gee these locals here are nice!  you all should come here for a holiday… its fabulous!)

we walked for ages and laughed and we both actually DID relax!

This little charactor would sometimes, stop… look out into the deep blue ocean and ask  “do you really think  someone could love me”

me, the optomist I am would say “ABSOLUTLEY.  They would be crazy if they didnt… I love you!” 

there would be a chuckle… and the comeback would be… “awww… but thats your job!”

We would both chuckle, and walk along … not saying a lot, but knowing soon… my dear little friend… MAY have a home”.  But I really DO love him!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The competition to name this little mouse still stands.  have you popped your suggestion in yet?

so far we have

Pickachu

Jamie

Mason

Look at the above pic…. I think the R & R really helped, I think this little mouse is smiling!!

what else could it be??

Please add your name you think suits this gorgeous mouse and you could be the one to give him a home.

reply below with a name you think  suits his fun loving, sensitive charactor!!!!

Competition ends Sept 30th

(oops I didnt realise he was watching me do this post.  He has a smug look on his face…??? 

mmm?   what IS he up to?

Elizabeth xx

PS

First person to tell me where this pic was taken, I will send a $10 gift voucher.

post where you think it was below

I am still in awe every time a new baby is born.  I dont know why,  as it happens every day…

but….

when you stop to think.. I mean really think…

how this new being has entered this world, and us as parents can help nurture and shape this gorgeous, amazing being to “be”

I am in awe of every single baby born…

it truly is a miracle

We have a new baby in our house.  we actually have a few new babies in our house!

wow.. what a week,

we have been blessed with a few baby animals, and the amount of twins (above) born… is quite extrodinary!! 

Babies, no matter what all look so gorgeous!

I still cant get over how cute these black lambs look and soon in no time will turn white like their mums.  My 5yr old asked  “but why are they black?”  I gave an answer that kept her asking more questions and I think I got us both so confused!  She went off to ask her dad!!  (phew)  dont kids sometimes ask hard questions?

do you know the answer?

 I just had to share with you our new babies in our family.  We called the baby in the top pic ”Ruby”.  Isnt she sweet! 

The best baby gift Ruby got was a warm welcome from all her friends and relatives in the paddock!

Ahhhhhh……….

i candy, translated simply means what is most pleasing to the eye!

Using a “less is more” approach to design, i candy intend to bring you a product that inspires, motivates, and delights!

 i candy was started in 2000 by lisa hamilton-gibbs. lisa (above) has always loved the powerful combination of minimalist images and words to provoke strong messages.

Lisa was a delight to chat to at Kids In Style, and I was pleased to stop by and chat to her aboout her passion… i candy.  The range is fresh and motivational and messages are very thought proking.  The card stock is a high quality, and is funky and fun, and the T’s for tots were gorgeous.

Newly released  to i candy are the i catching T’s for Tots.

There are four designs in the T’s for Tots range. Each cute long sleeved T shirt comes in a little drawstring bag, with the design printed on the outside. T’s come in 0-3 mth, 3-6 mth and 6-12 mth sizes. 

Excellent baby shower gift, newborn baby gift or gift for your own baby!

La Toriana is pleased to announce the arrival of T’s for Tots to the La Toriana collection.  I just know the twinkle toes will be a hit for Christmas, and have already sold a couple before I had even loaded them properly on the La Toriana website. (Lucy.. how quick were you!!!)

I cant decide which is my favourite design….?  maybe the birds and bees?

what is your favourite?

We plan to update you very soon on the amazing and inspirational cards from this designer … so stay tuned!!!

Warmly

Elizabeth xx

  It was wonderful to catch up with Lynda at Kids In Style in Melb recently. 

As many of you know I am passionate about Premmie Babies, and love stocking Premmie baby clothes online at La Toriana.  It was lovely to actually meet Lynda who is like minded about Premmie babies as I am. 

 We chatted like long lost friends and talked about our journeys and the rollercoaster ride of having a prem baby.  As many of you are also aware, I am passionate about organic clothing, especially organic baby and kids clothing.  When Lynda introduced her new release of ORGANIC premmie baby clothes at the Kids In Style fair,  I was estatic! 

Above are just a couple pics to give you a glimpse of whats to come… and very affordable too! I love the design and is in keeping with her current range.

Lynda, who found it hard after her son Jackson was born prem, finding premmie baby clothes that would fit, had an idea.  She developed a range of clothing that would fit premmie and small babies.  Earlybirds was founded.  She sourced the highest qulaity fabrics and was tested thoroughly.  You can be well assured with this product range.

  I spoke with Lynda about thie new organic Premmie collection.

“The organic range was developed to offer choice to customers.   It is a unisex range made from 100% certified organic cotton.   The range includes, Bodysuit (long and short sleeve), Jumpsuit, Jacket, Pants with feet, T-shirt, wrap, booties, hat, sleeping bag and sleeping nest.  It will be available at the end of October.”  says Linda, founder of Earlybirds.

Lynda with her son Jackson who was  her 10 weeks “earlybird”.

To view the current selection of Earlybirds available click here.

for all premmie baby clothing check out La Toriana’s Premmie range click here

We are really looking forward to see this beautiful range of Organic Premmie clothing…. we are sure you will to!

Warmly

Dream…  

That anything is possible, it is. Dont ever let anyone tell you it cant be done.   They dont really know….. Miracles DO happen.

 Believe…

Believe in your dream and in yourself.  Dont give up when people tell you it cant be done.  Believe you will reach your goal and you are half way there. 

Plan…

Think about your first step to your goal.  You have dreamt about it, you believe in it, now take one baby step towards it.  Write doen your thoughts, your goal and it will soon merge into a plan.  Research it, talk about it, start with one step….. not a flying leap, but one careful step and place it firmly on the ground, and then another. 

Achieve…

With your dream, your belief, your plan,  you will soon start to see results.  This is in anything in life.  One baby step will soon take you well on your way to achieving and reaching your destination.  Sure there may be obsticles in the way, life sure wasnt meant to be easy, but dont loose sight of your destination, you CAN do it.  Dont give up.

This mantra has been with me many years now, and I firmly believe in it.  remind me one day to tell you when and why I started using this… its a very long story…..

Believe in your dream and plan towards achieving it.

… Miracles do happen….

Elizabeth xx

I was taken with these owls when I was at Kids In Style and stopped to find out more.  When I chatted further was impressed with the  collaboration between 2 groups of women in different countries.

TIKA (PERU PTY LTD) is a homeware and fashion accessories based collaboration between two groups of women, one native to Lima, Peru, the other, from Sydney, Australia.

At the Peruvian end of this unique partnership are 280 women from two of the capital’s most populated districts, Tres de Mayo and Cerro Candella. The original group came together in 1998 to use their unique sewing skills to help improve the living standards of their families.

In Australia TIKA is headed by fashion designer and creator of the successful Skipping Girl label, Hayley Allen. The company has only recently been launched. Its aim is to combine the Peruvian women’s traditional knitting and crochet techniques with Allen’s own contemporary design skills to create a new and original range of lifestyle products.

Says Allen, “I loved what the women were doing and thought that if we could combine our two very different set of skills we could produce something new and exciting. Plus, it will provide additional support and market opportunities for the group which is why we kicked this thing off in the first place”.

As well as overseeing the creation of TIKA in Australia, Allen has the responsibility of guiding the company’s creative direction.

“TIKA will offer a wide range of fun, custom-made products. Our target market won’t be defined by age but by a sense of style and humour.”

The collection includes beanies, scarves, leggings, soft toys, blankets, tea-cosies, hot-water bottle covers and more!

Tika was launched at the Life In Style in Melbourne and I just know you will be hearing a lot more about this wonderful collaboration and excellent quality products.

Check out their website

www.tika.com.au